This week in banking news - CommBank rewards, university scholarships, car loans and sustainable gifting

By Tara McCabe · · 3 min read
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  • Find out about the new scholarship offered by Bendigo & Adelaide Bank
  • The hidden cost of Christmas you didn’t think about
  • How CommBank’s new rewards program could save you money
  • November, a busy time of year for rewards credit card holders?
  • How sustainable gifts could save you money
  • Why now is the time to be comparing car loans

All in this week's banking recap.

Bendigo & Adelaide Bank announce 2020 uni scholarships

If you live rurally and you’re thinking of heading off to university next year, you’ll be pleased to hear that Bendigo and Adelaide Bank are now offering scholarships for 2020 uni applicants from regional areas.

For students who are able to meet the criteria, scholarships of up to $5,000 are up for grabs.

Keen to find out more? Read the full article on Bendigo and Adelaide Bank’s new scholarship here.

Energy: the expense you haven’t budgeted for this Christmas

Whether you love Christmas or not, you probably don’t mind the idea of holing up for a few days and forgetting about the outside world. But of course, with that you’ve probably got the Christmas tree lights on, a second fridge might be rolled out and you might even be baking a lot more in the oven than usual.

So what does that mean for your energy bill? Well after crunching the numbers, Mozo worked out that the average Aussie household adds on $173.16 to its summer energy bill, at this time of year.

Want to find out which appliances are the most costly to run? Why not read the full article on the hidden costs of energy at Christmas time.

How CommBank’s new rewards program could save you money

Speaking of saving money, if you’re a CommBank customer you might be interested to hear that the bank has just released a new rewards program that could save you money. 

With CommBank’s new feature, you could earn cashback rewards with everyday expenses, including your weekly shopping trip to Coles. 

Read the full article on the Commonwealth Bank’s new cashback scheme here.

Did you redeem your credit card rewards in November?

Well if you did then you’re probably not the only one. According to research carried out by Citi, November was the time to cash in rewards points. In fact, the month saw a 72% hike in customers redeeming hard earned rewards points.

Of course with Christmas just around the corner, it’s no surprise that rewards credit card holders have been hurrying to cash in all those sweet rewards points. 

Check out the full article to read more about why credit card holders cashed in rewards points in November and to learn more about how you can make the most of your rewards programs. 

How opting for sustainable presents could save you money

Need some last minute gift ideas for Christmas? Well it turns out sustainable presents could be the way to go. We spoke to ME Bank’s Matt Read to find out what eco presents could not only help save the planet, but also save you from dipping into your savings account.

Intrigued to find out what they are? You can read the full article on sustainable Christmas gifts to find out more.

Why now is the best time of year to compare car loans

It’s December and we all know what that means. Christmas, yes Christmas, but also car clearance deals! As you probably already know, the end of the year and the new year is a great time to get a good deal on a new set of wheels. At this time of year dealerships will be hurrying to offload cars built in 2019.

So if you’ve got your eyes on a particular model, now might be the time to think about which car loan will help you get behind the steering wheel sooner.
Want to find out more? Head here to read the full article on the hottest car loan deals right now.

Or if you’re in the mood for scrolling, why not take a look at the deals below, to see which one might help you get your hands on your new vehicle.

Compare car loans

Mozo may receive payment if you click products on our site. We don’t compare the entire market, but you can search our database of 90 car loans.
Last updated 25 December 2024 Important disclosures and comparison rate warning*
  • Used Car Loan

    Fixed, Secured, No vehicle age limit, $5,000-$100,000

    Interest rate
    comparison rate
    Monthly repayment
    6.57% p.a.to 18.99% p.a.
    7.19% p.a.to 21.78% p.a.based on $30,000
    over 5 years

    Get a competitive fixed interest rate on a secured used car loan of up to $100,000 depending on your credit score. No vehicle age limits. Easy online application. Fast pre-approval. Pre-approved funds held for 1 month. No monthly account keeping fees, no exit fees and no early repayment fees. Flexible weekly, fortnightly or monthly repayments on terms from 1 to 7 years.

    Repayment terms from 1 year to 7 years. Representative example: a 5 year $30,000 loan at 6.57% would cost $35,528.12 including fees.

    Compare
    Go to site
    Details
  • Used Car - Unsecured Personal Loan

    Interest rate
    comparison rate
    Monthly repayment
    6.56% p.a.to 21.99% p.a.
    6.56% p.a.to 22.79% p.a.based on $30,000
    over 5 years

    Competitive fixed rates for borrowers on 1-7 year loans from $5,000 up to $50,000. $0 monthly fees and no early repayment fees to pay. Fast application process on the Revolut app. According to Revolut and subject to loan approval, you'll receive your money into your Revolut account straight away. Eligibility criteria applies.

    Repayment terms from 1 year to 7 years. Representative example: a 5 year $30,000 loan at 6.56% would cost $35,768.68 including fees.

    Compare
    Go to site
    Details
  • New / Demo Car Loan

    Variable, Secured

    Interest rate
    comparison rate
    Monthly repayment
    6.24% p.a.
    7.37% p.a.based on $30,000
    over 5 years

    Low variable car loan rate for purchasing new and demo vehicles from dealers. Personalised loan amounts between $5,000 and $150,000. Flexible repayment options. Choose between the 3 to 7 year loan terms. Good credit history. Stable employment history and Australian citizenship or PR required.

    Repayment terms from 3 years to 7 years. Representative example: a 5 year $30,000 loan at 6.24% would cost $35,880.27 including fees.

    Compare
    Find out more
    Details
  • New Car Loan

    Fixed, Secured, $5,000-$100,000

    Interest rate
    comparison rate
    Monthly repayment
    6.57% p.a.to 18.99% p.a.
    7.19% p.a.to 21.78% p.a.based on $30,000
    over 5 years

    Get a competitive fixed interest rate on a secured new car loan of up to $100,000 depending on your credit score. Easy online application. Fast pre-approval. Pre-approved funds held for 1 month. No monthly account keeping fees, no exit fees and no early repayment fees. Flexible weekly, fortnightly or monthly repayments on terms from 1 to 7 years.

    Repayment terms from 1 year to 7 years. Representative example: a 5 year $30,000 loan at 6.57% would cost $35,528.12 including fees.

    Compare
    Go to site
    Details
  • Used Car Loan

    Up to 5 years old, Variable, Secured

    Interest rate
    comparison rate
    Monthly repayment
    7.39% p.a.
    8.52% p.a.based on $30,000
    over 5 years

    Used Car Loan with no monthly or ongoing fees, with a fixed rate for the life of the loan. Fast online application. Good credit history. Stable employment history and Australian citizenship or PR required.

    Repayment terms from 3 years to 7 years. Representative example: a 5 year $30,000 loan at 7.39% would cost $36,854.29 including fees.

    Compare
    Find out more
    Details

* WARNING: The Comparison Rate combines the lender's interest rate, fees and charges into a single rate to show the true cost of a personal loan. The comparison rates displayed are calculated based on a loan of $30,000 for a term of 5 years or a loan of $10,000 for a term of 3 years as indicated, based on monthly principal and interest repayments, on a secured basis for secured loans and an unsecured basis for unsecured loans. This comparison rate applies only to the example or examples given. Different amounts and terms will result in different comparison rates. Costs such as redraw fees or early repayment fees, and cost savings such as fee waivers, are not included in the comparison rate but may influence the cost of the loan.

^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Personal Loan Awards

Mozo provides general product information. We don't consider your personal objectives, financial situation or needs and we aren't recommending any specific product to you. You should make your own decision after reading the PDS or offer documentation, or seeking independent advice.

While we pride ourselves on covering a wide range of products, we don't cover every product in the market. If you decide to apply for a product through our website, you will be dealing directly with the provider of that product and not with Mozo.